Going into the 2018 winter meetings, the Top 4 teams from last season = the Astros, Dodgers, Cubs, and Yankees haven't done much with the exception of the Yankees. The Yankees traded for Stanton which was huge and according to Vegas odds as of today/December 15th they are favored now to win the WS this upcoming season.

Here are the current Vegas odds as of now if you guys want to bet on who wins the WS:Yankees 5 to1 Dodgers 6 to 1Astros 6 to 1Indians 7 to 1RedSox 10 to 1Nationals 10 to 1Cubs are 12 to 1Cardinals are at 18 to 1 - they are next closest.

-Still a long a ways to go on who signs where and who gets who in trades. I doubt Jake returns to the Cubs so Vegas might knock the Cubs down to around 20 to 1 if so, but I still think the Cubs are the class of the NL Central. Cards were for years but now we are and I love it. I was looking at droughts and the Indians currently hold the longest without winning a WS. They haven't won one since 1948. I think that team is jinxed. Out of the contenders the Dodgers haven't won one since 1988 either. Hard to believe the Yankees haven't won it since 2009 as well. Thank God my Cubs finally won it all in 2016 to exercise the demons of 108 years, the Billy Goat, and Bartman! What a fucking relief, you guys don't even know how I felt when the Cubs won it all. It was like heaven for me. I cant even describe it! I honestly think I would take that over winning a million dollars as it was priceless to me as diehard Cubs fan.

The Yankees are still in desperate need of starting pitching. Severino, Sonny Gray, Masahiro Tanaka and Jordan Montgomery is a shaky rotation at best. Obviously they are going to have to sign or trade for another innings eater, hopefully an ace. Word is that they want to bring CC back, which I guess wouldn't be horrible. Adding Giancarlo Stanton was obviously a huge fucking deal, but there is nothing more important than pitching. HAVING SAID THAT, they have a solid bullpen, which includes both good long relievers, set up men and a dominating closer, so I would put them as the fave if and only if they get two more quality starting pitchers. Also, there are now holes at 2nd base and 3rd base to plug, but I expect them to re-sign Todd Frazier and hand Glenber Torres the second base job. Not that I believe a manager is that big of a deal, but who knows whether Aaron Boone will be a "boon" (pun intended) or a bust.

KobeMVP888 wrote:The Yankees are still in desperate need of starting pitching. Severino, Sonny Gray, Masahiro Tanaka and Jordan Montgomery is a shaky rotation at best. Obviously they are going to have to sign or trade for another innings eater, hopefully an ace. Word is that they want to bring CC back, which I guess wouldn't be horrible. Adding Giancarlo Stanton was obviously a huge fucking deal, but there is nothing more important than pitching. HAVING SAID THAT, they have a solid bullpen, which includes both good long relievers, set up men and a dominating closer, so I would put them as the fave if and only if they get two more quality starting pitchers. Also, there are now holes at 2nd base and 3rd base to plug, but I expect them to re-sign Todd Frazier and hand Glenber Torres the second base job. Not that I believe a manager is that big of a deal, but who knows whether Aaron Boone will be a "boon" (pun intended) or a bust.

You guys will probably pick up Jake I haven't heard anything but I don't put nothing past the Yankees.

lakerevolution wrote:I'm still sore from yet another letdown. The fuckin ASTROS??? Ugh.

Yeah that did suck but you guys still have a loaded lineup, actually you have a better Roster than the Cubs. I could see the Dodgers back in the WS easily.

Major League Baseball is so unforgiving, but eyeing a possible Bums/Yanks WS will be worth the price of admission. Will the Astros stay hot? Will the D-Backs and Rockies give the Dodgers trouble? Are the Cubs capable of getting back?

A female friend of mine who was a HUGE Dodgers fan just passed away last week from complications due to stage 4 cancer. She was young, a great school teacher, and she knew her baseball. Next season I have to make a couple LA trips to see 'em in person, in her memory.

3Peatkb24 wrote:You guys will probably pick up Jake I haven't heard anything but I don't put nothing past the Yankees.

They did get rid of Chase Headley's and Starlin Castro's salary, which pretty much offsets Stanton for luxury tax purposes, plus they have some trade chips, so yeah, they could afford an ace and stay under the luxury tax threshold. For whatever reason, both the Cubs and Yankees have their sights set on Alex Cobb. Yu Darvish froze in the spotlight, so it will be interesting too what his value is and where he lands. Lance Lynn is out there, too. I think it's more likely that the Yankees make another trade.

lakerevolution wrote:I'm still sore from yet another letdown. The fuckin ASTROS??? Ugh.

Yeah that did suck but you guys still have a loaded lineup, actually you have a better Roster than the Cubs. I could see the Dodgers back in the WS easily.

Major League Baseball is so unforgiving, but eyeing a possible Bums/Yanks WS will be worth the price of admission. Will the Astros stay hot? Will the D-Backs and Rockies give the Dodgers trouble? Are the Cubs capable of getting back?

A female friend of mine who was a HUGE Dodgers fan just passed away last week from complications due to stage 4 cancer. She was young, a great school teacher, and she knew her baseball. Next season I have to make a couple LA trips to see 'em in person, in her memory.

That sucks, sorry to hear about your friend. My condolences. I could see a Dodgers/Yankees WS in the making because it's almost impossible to Repeat so I think the Astros get knocked off. Cubs need to improve their BullPen to compete with the Dodgers IMO. If Jake leaves that will hurt as well.

3Peatkb24 wrote:You guys will probably pick up Jake I haven't heard anything but I don't put nothing past the Yankees.

They did get rid of Chase Headley's and Starlin Castro's salary, which pretty much offsets Stanton for luxury tax purposes, plus they have some trade chips, so yeah, they could afford an ace and stay under the luxury tax threshold. For whatever reason, both the Cubs and Yankees have their sights set on Alex Cobb. Yu Darvish froze in the spotlight, so it will be interesting too what his value is and where he lands. Lance Lynn is out there, too. I think it's more likely that the Yankees make another trade.

Yeah a lot can still happen, interesting times. What I love about Baseball right now is, all of our teams (people that Post in here) are Good right now. What was the chances everyone's favorite team would be in the Final 4!

Here is an interesting fact, only 1 team in MLB history has been to 4 straight NLCS's while winning at least 1 WS since the 1947 merger. That happened recently as the Cardinals did it from 2011-2014, they won the WS in 2011. The Cubs have been to 3 straight NLCS from 2015-2017 and won the WS in 2016. The Cubs could make/tie history if they make the NLCS again, that would be 4 in row. Not even teams like the BigRedCincy Machine of the 70's accomplished that, nor did the 80's Mets. The only team that really has a better Roster than the Cubs in the NL is the Dodgers so it is possible that the Cubs will be there again. Nats are really talented but they are some choking SonsOfGuns

-In the 90's the Braves went to 5 straight NLCS's from 1995-1999 while winning the WS in 1995 but when they won in 1995 it was a strike shortened season. Only 144 games were played so not sure that should count?

3Peatkb24 wrote:I will let Rev and Craig comment on this since you are wondering what they are thinking and it's the Dodgers. I will say this, they gave up a lot for him. At one time he was a Great player.

It's just a salary dump for the Dodgers and a chance for their former star to share in the spoils!

3Peatkb24 wrote:I will let Rev and Craig comment on this since you are wondering what they are thinking and it's the Dodgers. I will say this, they gave up a lot for him. At one time he was a Great player.

It's just a salary dump for the Dodgers and a chance for their former star to share in the spoils!